Peter Crane facts for kids

Sir Peter Crane is a famous botanist and scientist. He was born on July 18, 1954. He is currently the president of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. He is also a senior research scientist at Yale University. Sir Peter has led and helped grow many important organizations. These include the Field Museum in Chicago and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He has also been a professor and researcher in both the UK and the United States.

Sir Peter is well-known for his studies on flowering plants. These are called angiosperms. He learned about their beginnings and early growth by studying plant fossils. He also wrote a popular book called Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot. This book tells the story of the Ginkgo biloba tree through history.

Early Life and School

Peter Crane was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in the United Kingdom. When he was at Kettering Grammar School, he became very interested in local history, old things (archaeology), and plants.

He went to the University of Reading. In 1975, he earned his first degree in Botany with honors. He continued his studies there and received his Ph.D. in Botany in 1981. His Ph.D. research was about plants found in the Reading Beds, which are very old rock layers.

Sir Peter is married and has two children, a daughter and a son.

Sir Peter's Career Journey

Peter Crane has worked at many important places. These include the University of Reading (1978-1981) and the Field Museum (1982-1999). He also worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999-2006). Later, he was at the University of Chicago (2006-2009) and Yale University (2009-2016). Since 2016, he has been at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. He has also visited or worked part-time at other universities and museums around the world.

Working at the Field Museum

Sir Peter worked at the Field Museum of Natural History for about 17 years. He started as a curator of paleobotany. This means he studied ancient plants and fossils. From 1982 to 1992, he held different roles in the geology department.

In 1995, he became the director of the Field Museum. During his time as director, the museum's research and collections became stronger. He also helped create new groups. These groups focused on understanding different cultures and protecting the environment. A very exciting event during his time was when the museum got "Sue." Sue is a very well-preserved and almost complete skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Sue is now a famous part of the Field Museum.

Leading the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

In 1999, Sir Peter left the Field Museum. He became the director and chief executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He wanted to connect Kew's plant conservation work with the public.

During his time at Kew, the gardens became a UNESCO World Heritage site. He also helped Kew use digital technology more. He brought in more seasonal events and festivals. This helped more people visit the gardens. He made sure people understood how important plant diversity is for our future.

Time at the University of Chicago

Sir Peter left Kew in 2006 to return to the United States. He became a University Professor at the University of Chicago. He worked there for three years.

His Role at Yale University

In 2009, Sir Peter became the dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He helped the school's finances during a tough economic time. He also worked on projects to help students with money. He encouraged students to get involved in research. He also made connections with other study programs at Yale. Sir Peter brought new scholars to the school. He also worked to make the school more diverse and welcoming for everyone.

Leading the Oak Spring Garden Foundation

In June 2016, Sir Peter moved to Virginia. He went to lead The Oak Spring Garden Foundation. This is a new non-profit organization. It was started by the famous garden designer Rachel "Bunny" Lambert Mellon.

The Foundation is located on part of the Mellons' old estate. Its goal is to "support and inspire fresh thinking and bold action on the history and future of plants." This includes the art and culture of plants, gardens, and landscapes. The Foundation has Bunny Mellon's gardens and a rare book library. It supports research about plant diversity, the future of plants, and the art of plants and gardens. Sir Peter is the first president of this foundation.

Research and Books

Sir Peter Crane's research focuses on several areas:

• How plants have changed and grown over long periods. He studies plant fossils.
• Combining studies of ancient plants (paleobotany) with modern plants (neobotany). This helps understand plant diversity and evolution.
• Protecting different kinds of plants, including plants used for food.
• Planning for non-profit groups that have collections, like museums and botanical gardens.

Besides many scientific articles, Sir Peter wrote Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot. He has also been an editor for science journals. He helped edit books about how plants evolved and how to protect them. He also co-wrote two major books about plant evolution. One is called The Origin and Diversification of Land Plants. The other, written with Else Marie Friis and Kaj Pedersen, is called Early Flowers and Angiosperm Evolution.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Sir Peter has received many honors for his work. He became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1998. He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2001, he became a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He is also a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (2002). In 2004, he joined the German National Academy of Sciences.

He received a knighthood on June 12, 2004. This was for his important work in gardening and conservation. In 2014, he won the International Prize for Biology. In 2024, he was awarded the Darwin-Wallace medal by the Linnean Society.

He has also received several honorary degrees. These are special degrees given by universities to honor someone's achievements. He received them from universities like Sewanee: The University of the South and the University of Connecticut in the United States. In the UK, he received them from the University of Kingston, the University of Portsmouth, and Cambridge University.